Helicopter toy

ABSTRACT

A captive toy helicopter having a horizontally rotatable blade is suspended and controlled by a cable system in such a way as to move in horizontal and vertical directions as desired. Rotary movement are imparted to the blade by the cable system as the helicopter is moved.

United States Patent 1 Wolf [ HELICOPTER TOY [76] Inventor: Tobin Wolf, 285 Aycrigg Ave,

Passaic, NJ. 07055 [22] Filed: June 6, 1973 [2|] Appl. No.: 367,535

[52] US. Cl. 46/1 H, 46/75 [51] Int. Cl A63h 27/12 [58] Field of Search 46/] H, 75, 77, 202

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,405,478 l0/l968 Richter 46/] R 3,600,843 8/l97l Becker 46/] H Feb. 11, 1975 3,693,290 9/1972 Brcslow 46/202 Primary E.\'aminerLouis G. Mancene Assismn! Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jay M. Cantor [57] ABSTRACT A captive toy helicopter having a horizontally rotatable blade is suspended and controlled by a cable system in such a way as to move in horizontal and vertical directions as desired. Rotary movement are imparted to the blade by the cable system as the helicopter is moved.

23 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 1 I975 3.864.888

sum 1 BF 2 PATENTED FEB I 1 I975 SHEET 2 or 2 HELICOPTER TOY The amusement device herein disclosed is a mobile toy in the form of a captive helicopter which is provided with a horizontal rotor blade. The helicopter is suspended for movements in both horizontal and vertical paths. Its movements are controlled from a location remote from the helicopter and its rotor blade caused to turn during such movements. The disclosed amusement device is a fascinating, inexpensive, mobile toy which can be easily controlled by very young children; it is relatively inexpensive; uncomplicated and easily assembled to operate in the manner above indicated.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a toy helicopter which can be controlled from a distance to simulate both vertical and horizontal flight.

It is another object of the invention to provide a toy helicopter which is suspended by a cable system and has a horizontal rotor which is caused to rotate by cooperation with the cable system during movements of the helicopter.

The above and further objects will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds. For an understanding of the invention, the manner in which the parts are assembled and operate, particular attention is called to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the amusement device of this invention erected in operative condition with the helicopter suspended from cables;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the electrical control system for controlling the cables to move the helicopter;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 4 showing the rotor assembly in section and mounted on the exterior of the helicopter shell;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the exterior of the helicopter and the rotor blade assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a modification showing a single motor movable to drivingly engage one or the other of the pulleys which controls the cables to move the helicopter in horizontal and vertical directions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the cable system from which the helicopter is suspended and which controls the movements of the top helicopter to simulate real flight comprises an upper cable 2 which is trained about a pair of spaced rotatable drivers 4 and 6. The upper flight of the cable 2 passes through the traverse member 8 formed with spaced eyelets l0 and 12. The ends of the cable in the lower flight thereof are secured to the respective sides of the traverse member 8 below the eyelets. Rotation of the drum 4 causes translation of the traverse member along the upper flight of cable system 2. As shown, the traverse member 8 can be made simply and inexpensively by a length of wire which is twisted to form the linearly spaced eyelets 10, 12. The vertical legs 14 are then twisted about each other to form lateral wings 16, the ends of which are bent toward each other to form hook-like members 18.

The toy helicopter may be made of metal or plastic to have the appearance of a real helicopter and is provided with a horizontally rotatable blade 22 at its upper end. As shown in enlarged form in FIG. 4 and in the cross section of FIG. 3, the blade is formed integrally with a hub-member 24 provided with a bore 25 and having a radially projecting flange 26 above the blade which is provided with a groove in its peripheral edge surface to form a pulley. The outer surface of the helicopter is formed at its upper end with an integrally formed protruding boss having a bore therethrough extending centrally thereof. A pin member 30, which forms a shaft for rotatably supporting the hub member 24, is formed with a head 12 bearing against the lower side of the boss within the body of the helicopter and is tightly fitted in the bore 33 in the boss. The combination hub, propeller and pulley assembly 22, 24 and 26 is mounted by means of its bore 25 on the shaft 30 for rotation. A cap member 34, which may be of plastic or other material, is fixedly mounted on the free end of the shaft 30 extending above the hub 24 as by press fitting. On the cap member is secured a wire-support 36 in the form of a length of wire extending diametrically therethrough, the ends of the wire being formed as eyelets 38 aligned with the groove in the pulley.

A lower cable 40 is wound at one end about a drum 42 located just below drum 4 of the cable system 2 and is fixed at its other end at a point just below the drum 6 of the cable system 2. The cable 40 passes in succession through one hook member 18 in the traverse member 8, through both eyelets 38 in the wire support 36 and then through the second hook member in the traverse member. In its passage between the eyelets 38 in the support 36, the cable 40 bears against the bottom of the groove in the pulley 26. The helicopter is thus suspended by the cable 40 in such a way that as the drum 42 is rotated to wind the cable thereon, the loop of the cable 40 which extends between one hook 18, both eyelets 38 and the second hook 18 will shorten to raise the helicopter. The portion of the cable passing through the eyelets 38 and bearing against the pulley 26 will, in its shortening movement, rotate the blade 22. Conversely, by rotating the pulley 42 to unwind the cable 40 therefrom, the helicopter will be lowered and the blade rotated by relative movements of the cable and pulley. Rotation of the drum 4 in either direction will obviously cause corresponding horizontal traversing movements of the helicopter. Since both drums 4 and 42 can be simultaneously rotated, the helicopter may be caused to move in a direction having both horizontal and vertical components to simulate flight of an actual helicoper.

As shown in FIG. I, the drums are mounted for rotation on a housing or housings 44 within which is located a motor provided with gear reduction mechanism and which is operatively connected to each drum. A con sole 46 supporting the motor housings, is provided with switches for controlling the motors and an indicator of the directions in which the helicopter is being moved when the switches are manipulated. The motors M1 and M2, as shown in the schematic of FIG. 2, may each be energized by a battery common thereto through a double-pole double-throw reversing switch 48 and 50, respectively. As conventional, reversal of current through the motors by energizing one or the other pair of switch terminals will reverse the direction of rotation of the motors and consequently the direction of horizontal and vertical movements of the helicopter.

Instead of employing a separate motor for rotating each of the drums 4 and 42, a single motor M, as shown in FIG. 5, may be utilized to control movements of the helicopter in both horizontal and vertical directions. The motor M, as shown, is provided with a pinion 52 and is mounted for movement in the directions shown by the arrows, into engagement with a cooperating pinion on each of the drums to rotate it. Obviously, friction drums may be substituted for the pinions to provide the same result. In the modification shown in FIG. 5, obviously the helicopter can be controlled to move only in either the vertical or horizontal direction but not in both simultaneously. The motor M is also reversible as in the previously described embodiment.

Having thus described the invention with the particularities required by the statutes, it is understood that obvious changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope, spirit and concept of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An amusement device comprising, movable track means suspended between two spaced points, a traversing member supported by said track means for movement therewith, a toy helicopter provided with a horizontal rotor, a flexible line extending generally parallel to the track means, means on the traversing member for movably supporting spaced portions of the line, means on the helicopter engageable by the portion of the flexible line intermediate the spaced portions for suspending the helicopter and training the line against the rotor for rotating it during movement of the traversing member with the track means. 2., An amusement device comprising, track means suspended between two spaced points, a traversing member supported by said track means for movement therealong, a toy helicopter provided with a horizontal rotor, control means extending parallel to the track means and movably engaged by the traversing member for suspending the helicopter and operating the rotor during movement of the traversing member for suspending the helicopter and operating the rotor during movement of the traversing member along the track means, the control means comprising an elongated flexible member, said traverse member and helicopter being each provided with a pair of horizontally spaced openings, the flexible member extending through said openings to suspend the helicopter below the traverse member, a portion of the flexible member extending between the openings in the helicopter, and means on the rotor engageable by the portion of the flexible member extending between the openings in the helicopter for rotating the rotor as the traversing member moves along the track means. 3. An amusement device according to claim 2 including support means for said flexible member spaced 5. An amusement device according to claim 4 including means at said one location for controlling movements of the traversing means in opposite directions.

6. An amusement device according to claim 5 wherein the means for controlling rotations of the pulley and the movements of the traverse member includes a single driving device operated to selectively rotate the pulley or to move the traverse member.

7. An amusement device comprising,

a suspended traverse member mounted for movement along a substantially horizontal path,

a flexible member extending parallel to the path of movement of the traverse member,

said traverse member being provided with a pair of spaced openings through which the flexible member freely passes,

a toy helicopter having a pair of linearly spaced openings through which the portion of the flexible member which is between the openings in the traverse member freely passes to suspend the helicopter for movements therewith and whereby pulling or loosening the flexible member in relatively opposite directions away from or toward the traverse member varies the height of the helicopter.

8. An amusement device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the helicopter is provided with a horizontal rotor blade,

and means connected to the rotor blade cooperating with the portion of the flexible 'member between the openings in the helicopter for rotating the blade during vertical or horizontal movements of the helicopter.

9. An amusement device in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one end of the flexible member is trained about a pulley and the other end relatively fixed,

and driving means for rotating the pulley in relatively opposite directions to pull or lower the flexible member for varying the height of the helicopter.

10. An amusement device in accordance with claim 9 including driving means for causing horizontal movements of the traverse member along the path,

and means at one end of the path of the traverse member for controlling both driving means.

11. An amusement device comprising,

a flexible string secured at one end to a support,

a member provided with a pair of spaced apertures through which the string passes to form a loop,

means for suspending the member,

a toy helicopter having a rotatable propeller shaft,

means secured to the helicopter and provided with a pair of openings, the openings being spaced respectively from opposite sides of the shaft,

the strands of the loop passing through the respective openings with the bight of the loop bearing against the propeller shaft to rotate it as the string is tightened or slackened by movement of its other end to raise or lower the helicopter.

12. An amusement device according to claim 11 including a rotatable drum for winding the free end of the string thereon for tightening or slackening the line.

13. An amusement device comprising,

a suspended traverse member, means mounting the member for movement along a path,

a flexible member extending parallel to the path of movement of the traverse member,

said traverse member being provided with a pair of spaced openings through which the flexible member passes freely,

a toy helicopter provided with a rotor,

means secured to the helicopter providing a pair of spaced apertures, one on each side of the rotor axis,

the portion of the flexible member between the openings in the flexible member passing freely through the apertures and bearing against the rotor for rorating it as the traverse member moves along said path.

14. An amusement device comprising,

a toy helicopter provided with an aperture on opposite side of the shaft,

a string suspended between spaced points which is threaded through the apertures and trained against the shaft to rotate it upon relative movements between the string and toy helicopter.

15. An amusement device according to claim 14 wherein said means secured to the helicopter comprises a bar extending transversely to the shaft,

the apertures being provided by a loop formed on the free ends of the bar.

16. An amusement device according to claim 15 wherein said shaft is provided with a pulley against which the string bears.

17. An amusement device comprising,

a traversing member,

flexible means suspending said traversing member above ground for linear movements thereof,

means for moving said flexible means in opposite directions,

a flexible member extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of the traversing member secured at one end and movably supported at its other end,

said traversing member having a pair of spaced guides through which the flexible member extends,

and a toy object having at least one aperture through which the portion of the flexible membeter between said openings extends,

whereby vertical movements of the object can be effected along all locations along its path of movement by pulling or slackening the flexible member.

18. An amusement device according to claim 17 including a rotatable pulley movably supporting the other end of the flexible member.

19. An amusement device according to claim 18 including means for controlling rotations of said pulley,

said means for controlling the rotations of the pulley and the means for moving said traversing member comprising a single drive member and means to control said drive member for selectively operating the pulley and the traversing member.

20. An amusement device according to claim 17 wherein said means for suspending said traversing member for linear movements comprises,

a string'trained over a pair of spaced rotatable pulleys and connected at its ends to the traversing member.

21. An amusement device according to claim 20 wherein said traversing member is provided with aperture means through which the flight of the string which is unsecured to the traversing member extends.

22. An amusement device according to claim 21 including an additional rotatable pulley movably supporting the other end of the flexible member.

23. An amusement device according to claim 22 including a single driving device,

and means to control said device to selectively rotate the pair of pulleys and the additional pulley. 

1. An amusement device comprising, movable track means suspended between two spaced points, a traversing member supported by said track means for movement therewith, a toy helicopter provided with a horizontal rotor, a flexible line extending generally parallel to the track means, means on the traversing member for movably supporting spaced portions of the line, means on the helicopter engageable by the portion of the flexible line intermediate the spaced portions for suspending the helicopter and training the line against the rotor for rotating it during movement of the traversing member with the track means.
 2. An amusement device comprising, track means suspended between two spaced points, a traversing member supported by said track means for movement therealong, a toy helicopter provided with a horizontal rotor, control means extending parallel to the track means and movably engaged by the traversing member for suspending the helicopter and operating the rotor during movement of the traversing member for suspending the helicopter and operating the rotor during movement of the traversing member along the track means, the control means comprising an elongated flexible member, said traverse member and helicopter being each provided with a pair of horizontally spaced openings, the flexible member extending through said openings to suspend the helicopter below the traverse member, a portion of the flexible member extending between the openings in the helicopter, and means on the rotor engageable by the portion of the flexible member extending between the openings in the helicopter for rotating the rotor as the traversing member moves along the track means.
 3. An amusement device according to claim 2 including support means for said flexible member spaced from opposite sides of said traverse member, said flexible member being trained over at least one of the support means for pulling or loosening movements in raise or lower the helicopter respectively, and to rotate the helicopter rotor.
 4. An amusement device according to claim 3 wherein the at least one support means is a rotatable pulley, and means located at one end of the track means for controlling rotations of the pulley in opposite directions.
 5. An amusement device according to claim 4 including means at said one location for controlling movements of the traversing means in opposite directions.
 6. An amusement device according to claim 5 wherein the means for controlling rotations of the pulley and the movements of the traverse member includes a single driving device operated to selectively rotate the pulley or to move the traverse member.
 7. An amusement device comprising, a suspended traverse member mounted for movement along a substantially horizontal path, a flexible member extending parallel to the path of movement of the traverse member, said traverse member being provided with a pair of spaced openings through which the flexible member freely passes, a toy helicopter having a pair of linearly spaced openings through which the portion of the flexible member which is between the openings in the traverse member freely passes to suspend the helicopter for movements therewith and whereby pulling or loosening the flexible member in relatively opposite directions away from or toward the traverse member varies the height of the helicopter.
 8. An amusement device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the helicopter is provided with a horizontal rotor blade, and means connected to the rotor blade cooperating with the portion of the flexible member between the openings in the helicopter for rotaTing the blade during vertical or horizontal movements of the helicopter.
 9. An amusement device in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one end of the flexible member is trained about a pulley and the other end relatively fixed, and driving means for rotating the pulley in relatively opposite directions to pull or lower the flexible member for varying the height of the helicopter.
 10. An amusement device in accordance with claim 9 including driving means for causing horizontal movements of the traverse member along the path, and means at one end of the path of the traverse member for controlling both driving means.
 11. An amusement device comprising, a flexible string secured at one end to a support, a member provided with a pair of spaced apertures through which the string passes to form a loop, means for suspending the member, a toy helicopter having a rotatable propeller shaft, means secured to the helicopter and provided with a pair of openings, the openings being spaced respectively from opposite sides of the shaft, the strands of the loop passing through the respective openings with the bight of the loop bearing against the propeller shaft to rotate it as the string is tightened or slackened by movement of its other end to raise or lower the helicopter.
 12. An amusement device according to claim 11 including a rotatable drum for winding the free end of the string thereon for tightening or slackening the line.
 13. An amusement device comprising, a suspended traverse member, means mounting the member for movement along a path, a flexible member extending parallel to the path of movement of the traverse member, said traverse member being provided with a pair of spaced openings through which the flexible member passes freely, a toy helicopter provided with a rotor, means secured to the helicopter providing a pair of spaced apertures, one on each side of the rotor axis, the portion of the flexible member between the openings in the flexible member passing freely through the apertures and bearing against the rotor for rotating it as the traverse member moves along said path.
 14. An amusement device comprising, a toy helicopter provided with an aperture on opposite side of the shaft, a string suspended between spaced points which is threaded through the apertures and trained against the shaft to rotate it upon relative movements between the string and toy helicopter.
 15. An amusement device according to claim 14 wherein said means secured to the helicopter comprises a bar extending transversely to the shaft, the apertures being provided by a loop formed on the free ends of the bar.
 16. An amusement device according to claim 15 wherein said shaft is provided with a pulley against which the string bears.
 17. An amusement device comprising, a traversing member, flexible means suspending said traversing member above ground for linear movements thereof, means for moving said flexible means in opposite directions, a flexible member extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of the traversing member secured at one end and movably supported at its other end, said traversing member having a pair of spaced guides through which the flexible member extends, and a toy object having at least one aperture through which the portion of the flexible membeter between said openings extends, whereby vertical movements of the object can be effected along all locations along its path of movement by pulling or slackening the flexible member.
 18. An amusement device according to claim 17 including a rotatable pulley movably supporting the other end of the flexible member.
 19. An amusement device according to claim 18 including means for controlling rotations of said pulley, said means for controlling the rotations of the pulley and the means for moving said traversing member comprising a single drive member and Pg,18 means to control said drive member for selectively operating the pulley and the traversing member.
 20. An amusement device according to claim 17 wherein said means for suspending said traversing member for linear movements comprises, a string trained over a pair of spaced rotatable pulleys and connected at its ends to the traversing member.
 21. An amusement device according to claim 20 wherein said traversing member is provided with aperture means through which the flight of the string which is unsecured to the traversing member extends.
 22. An amusement device according to claim 21 including an additional rotatable pulley movably supporting the other end of the flexible member.
 23. An amusement device according to claim 22 including a single driving device, and means to control said device to selectively rotate the pair of pulleys and the additional pulley. 